Issue 55
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Colchester Labour Party News Liberal Democrats Party News People Power. Can it still triumph over the Establishment? Well, Essex County Council’s apparent u-turn over the closure of 25% of our libraries Cllr Tim Young would appear to give us all hope that it can. Not that I or any of the other councillors or protest groups that were set up to oppose the closure plans are totally celebrating quite yet. The devil will be in the detail but the fact that the Tory County Council have announced that no library will close is a partial victory already. Congratulations to Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE) who led the campaign and will continue pressing for all Essex Libraries to be fully staffed by professional officers employed by the local authority. Yes, there is always a place for volunteers to provide added value but libraries are vital community resources and shouldn’t be run on the cheap. Greenstead Library was not under immediate threat but there was concern about reduced opening hours, fewer staff and a change of heart that our library would be sacrificed to save others. I, and my Labour colleagues, will be keeping a close eye on how this progresses. Somebody asked me the other day why there are local organisations in Colchester having to provide free food, clothes, school uniforms, toys, proms, buggies, white goods,
kitchen essentials, soap, shampoo - in fact you name it.. I had to answer that it is political priorities. The Tory government, and the Coalition Government before them, have made decisions that have caused and embedded poverty in our society. The botched introduction of Universal Credit has led to many families being left with no money at all for weeks on end. It is causing misery and hardship for several of my constituents and I have had to work with the Department of Work & Pensions plus our caring and knowledgeable staff at Colchester Borough Council and Colchester Borough Homes to mitigate the worst of the problems. Surely it is wrong that in an affluent Borough, in the South East of one of the richest countries in the world that this is happening. It needs to change. The priority should not be cuts in Corporation Tax for big business or income tax cuts for the riches but help and assistance for those struggling the most. I pay tribute to the local groups and charities who are doing their best to ameliorate the situation but it is only a change in government policy that will radically affect the prospects of the poorest and most vulnerable. On a more positive note don’t you just love the Big Screen in Castle Park during Wimbledon fortnight? It is one of my favourite achievements as a Councillor and Portfolio Holder and, again this year, we had some wonderful film screenings too. Long may it continue!
Colchester Zoo this summer! See Page 6 for details.
What may catch you eye each week? Perhaps headlines on new housing including garden communities? Before onto the Cllr David King sport or Page 3. Let me help. After a life of professional neutrality it is hard to accept that as a local politician my word (it is my bond) might be questioned by some. But here we go. Where does the pressures for more building come from? The Conservative Government. They set the targets and Councils are under huge pressures to make land available so those houses, nearly a thousand a year or so, can be built. But the deeper answer is that any government of any type will demand or encourage house building. And it is the demand for homes, the needs of our families, our friends, our neighbours (old or new) that is having to be met. Although allowing Council houses to be sold off for less than they are worth has made matters much worse. What about Middlewick Ranges? I spent a lifetime behind barbed wire (deservedly) in the Ministry of Defence. I knew there were plans to release money to help our troops, facilities and equipment (some of which is shamefully unreliable). Now we can see the effect. Government wanted the site to have 2,000 homes. Your Council resisted that. The current proposals are for 1,000 new homes. That is so much better. But still another huge development without facilities that cuts into green space and puts pressure on local roads, already clogged up at peak hours. What is the alternative? The best way to reduce the pressure for yet more filling in the gaps or building to suit the developers is for your Councils to
work together towards new garden communities. These can deliver the right sort of homes needed with the quality facilities, infrastructure and green space required, places people can live, work and play. Working with other local councils we can get money and road improvements from the government. We can plan and build modern communities, with proper public transport and connections, between home and work, cycle and path and transport. We can then oppose developer led ‘pick and mix’ building - speculative housing where it suits them not residents. We can avoid developments filling in the gaps, the green space, clustering around our towns and villages, without the schools, medical facilities, play areas and facilities that make new communities viable. This is so great you’d hope we could all agree. But opinions differ and some agree on the approach ‘but not here’. there is no unity across the local political parties. Yet. We want to build new communities, over many years, with homes of quality, that will last, in community settings of which we can be proud, We should aim to set a gold standard for green development and carbon reduction and to put connectivity at the heard of what we do, including public transport and the paths and cycle paths that make for a healthier life. That’s the battle ground. More of the same. Or a more sustainable and community aware approach, consulting as we go, that brings facilities and quality of life, not just traffic jams and a sea of new housing. You will hear lots - months of it. Love Island might be preferable after all or back to the cat video. They are cute and who could say that of us politicians? Move over. I’ll join you on the sofa - but let me whisper sweet ‘garden communities’ to you.
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Issue 56: 21/07/19 Issue 57: 21/08/19
Simply Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organization has been provided by such individual, event organizers or organization without verification by us. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Simply Magazine. Therefore, Simply Magazine carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon. Any form of reproduction of any content without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. For information on advertising or submitting a article please email David Cook at: Simplycolchester@gmail.com or call 01206 233717 / 07734 171985
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Colchester awarded Fairtrade Town certificate – again!
Quick Crossword Puzzle
The Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Nick Cope, said: “Colchester is rightly proud to have maintained its status as a Fairtrade Town for the past 13 years.
Colchester’s commitment to raising awareness of the benefits of Fairtrade products in the community has been recognised with a Fairtrade Town certificate – for the 13th year running! Colchester’s Mayor, Cllr Nick Cope, was presented with the award in a brief ceremony ahead of last night’s Full Council meeting. Colchester first received its Fairtrade Town accreditation 2006. The certificate is awarded by The Fairtrade Foundation, which works to empower disadvantaged producers in developing countries by promoting and licensing the Fairtrade Mark – the symbol of the international Fairtrade?system and most globally recognized ethical label. The scheme helps tackle injustice in conventional trade by supporting farmers and workers as they improve their lives and their communities.
“More than ever, people are concerned about the impact their choices have on the environment and on the lives of those who produce the goods they buy. “The prospects of a fairer, greener, happier world are bound up in every single choice we make as consumers, so it’s reassuring to know that Fairtrade products are high quality and buying them enables a real change for the better for farmers and workers in the developing world.” Don Manhire, member of the Fairtrade Town Steering Group, added: “We are lucky enough to live in a wealthy country, so we should be very sympathetic to buying Fairtrade products in our local shops, to help give poor families in developing countries a better life. “The success of Fairtrade in Colchester is essentially down to the tireless efforts of a small Steering Group of volunteers dedicated to promoting Fairtrade.”
ACROSS 1 They work on cars doing better than the experts? (5,7) 9 Song about region largely in US state (7) 10 Left in charge of first of obituary columns (7) 11 Vegetable served with one bird or another (7) 12 Cloth acceptable for Native American (7) 13 Decorative work produces popular song (5) 14 Runs into a very sad, crushed opponent (9) 16 Female gave a kiss when nagged (9) 19 Make secure by holding drink back (5) 21 Achieves destruction of satanist without leader (7) 23 A canoe comes to grief around island in Pacific area (7) 24 Reconstruct buried ruins round lake (7) 25 Send a daughter clothing (7) 26 Don’t heighten problem of acceptable behaviour (3,4,5)
DOWN 2 Girl from Ayr initially going to great trouble (7) 3 Frugality shown by company in management of money (7) 4 Moorish sailor’s card game (9) 5 Like little picture of jelly? (5) 6 Nobleman, one with the Queen previously (7) 7 Philosopher from Australia found in Spain perhaps (7) 8 A long time finding Eeyore’s age? (7,5) 9 Building designed for performances, or part of one (12) 15 Recording of top diva performing around eastern Spain (9) 17 After stick-up I will get time – it’s nothing (3,1,3) 18 Not entirely bothered if I certify large building (7) 19 Adaptation of the Bard shows broadness (7) 20 One abandons new internal source of light (7) 22 Unsociable sort is unhappy at party (5)
SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 panel beaters. 9 Arizona. 10 portico. 11 peacock. 12 chinook. 13 inlay. 14 adversary. 16 henpecked. 19 belay. 21 attains. 23 Oceania. 24 rebuild. 25 address. 26 the done thing. DOWN: 2 abigail. 3 economy. 4 blackjack. 5 aspic. 6 earlier. 7 Spinoza. 8 donkey’s years. 9 amphitheatre. 15 videotape. 17 not a bit. 18 edifice. 19 breadth. 20 lantern. 22 saddo.
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Join Colchester Zoo for an action packed summer! family day out! Check out their play areas including the indoor soft play area Jungle Tumble so the kids can release their wild side! Learn more about the animals and see them up close by watching an array of displays with the chance to quiz keepers about your favourite animals!
Throughout the summer holidays you can join Colchester Zoo for a fantastic
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You can also feed some of their gentle giants at FREE public feeding sessions with the elephants and giraffe! PLUS the Colchester Zoo Crew will also be making appearances at various locations throughout the day!
And don’t forget to pop into the ‘Sensation Station’ and have a go at handling some furry friends and scaly species before visiting the Discovery Centre! Our Lost Madagascar Road Train will also be in action so you can take a ride to Lost Madagascar walkthrough area and see the lemurs!
Dates for your diaries Wake Up with Colchester Zoo 6th July
Starlight Safari Nights 14th & 28th September
If you are a Colchester Zoo passholder then why not join them for this exclusive early morning passholder event for the chance to see the zoo in a whole new light!
Enjoy a summer evening at Colchester Zoo with a whole host of extra encounters as the zoo stays open into the evening!
£30,000 to tackle rural crime Quick Crossword Puzzle
The funding application process will be launched in September 2019 when the council, supported by the Safer Colchester Partnership, launches its new Rural Crime Toolkit. The Toolkit, which has been developed to work alongside the Essex Police Rural Crime Strategy, provides advice and guidance to rural communities to help identify what the problems are, practical solutions about how they can go about addressing them, preventative measures and a guide on how to apply for funding. Cllr Mike Lilley, Colchester Borough Council Portfolio Holder for
Communities, Wellbeing and Public Safety, said: “We all have a part to play in making our communities safer, friendlier and more liveable. We’re building on the council’s investment in Police numbers, by developing this toolkit and committing to £30,000 funding to support the implementation of schemes to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in rural areas. “This toolkit and funding support the delivery of our promise to make safer streets and communities for the whole borough, helping to create a better Colchester.” Information about the Toolkit and associated funding application process will be published on the council’s website in September 2019.
ACROSS 1 3 9 10 12 13 14 18 20 22 24 25 26 27
One with limited freedom to ride the waves, say(4) Ideas came unstuck in these places of learning (9) Avoid Donald perhaps (4) Sign one’s not healthy and fit? (10) One paddles in ocean, swimming first (8) Young Tom needs gear, camping equipment mostly (6) After awful experience Dad takes on new role extremely quickly (4,3,7) Desires land law reforms in part of the Pacific (7,7) Pondering evil, sucker goes outside (6) Aunt Dot’s resolved to be conspicuous (5,3) So slur I spread about scoundrel is libellous? (10) Short memorial column (4) Snakes shed tears when exposed to the elements (9) A little memory to get yout teeth into, say (4)
DOWN 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 11 15 16 17 19 21 23
01206 564179 01473 780477
Right away secured criminal to corrupt (6) Never once arranged to meet again (9) This is one angry expression! (9) Engaged finally, I have to take the plunge! (4) Breaking law, guilty man in the soup (12) Former partner is given short time to live (5) Anne’s upset about trap (7) Thoroughly stilted but polite (4-8) Final high-ranking card – it’s played on Judgement Day (4,5) Hand buoys around in Canadian water (6,3) To some extent problem is horrendous for Mark (7) Sculpture from university in Iowa? (6) Arab’s second car (5) Good student starts to overcome weariness and shine (4)
SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 serf. 3 academies. 9 duck. 10 convulsion. 12 canoeist. 13 kitten. 14 hell-for-leather. 18 Leeward Islands. 20 musing. 22 stand out. 24 scurrilous. 25 obit. 26 windswept. 27 byte. DOWN: 1 seduce. 2 reconvene. 4 crossword. 5 dive. 6 mulligatawny. 7 exist. 8 ensnare. 11 well-mannered. 15 last trump. 16 Hudson Bay. 17 blemish. 19 statue. 21 Saudi. 23 glow.
Colchester Borough Council has committed £30,000 to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in rural areas.
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Garden Community plans could support more than 21,000 jobs by 2050 More than 21,000 jobs could be created over the next 30 years across North Essex as a result of proposed Garden Communities, leading economic consultants have said. Assessing the economic impact as part of new Local Plan evidence set to go before the Planning Inspector later this year, the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) has set out how, with the right investment, the Garden Communities can play a major role in boosting the North Essex economy through the provision of high-quality business space and the right sorts of homes to support employees. While discounting construction jobs, its findings show the Garden Communities would help support 6,500 new jobs by 2033, 21,500 by 2050 and 45,000 once the new settlements are completed, either in the proposed communities or the surrounding area. Braintree, Colchester and Tendring councils have published the further information on their joint plans for the purpose-built Garden Communities in response to questions raised by the Planning Inspector last year.
The Garden Communities, which would be built over 40-50 years, are a long-term strategy of the three North Essex councils, in partnership with Essex County Council, to help meet future growth of the area in a more strategic way. A different model to traditional building, Garden Communities are ‘holistically planned’ developments which have an emphasis on how design and layout are used in a way that creates healthy, green, vibrant new communities, delivering a range of homes alongside jobs, accessible open spaces, health, education and community assets – places people can live, work and play. The new evidence shows the council’s infrastructure-led approach is viable, meaning the schools, health, and leisure facilities needed to support the stand-alone settlements would be developed at the same time as the homes – not afterwards as is the usual practice. The plans also set out that substantial commercial space will be provided within each of the new communities, supporting new, existing and growing businesses, to help meet the councils’ commitment of ensuring at
least one job is created for each home built. Cllr Mark Cory, Leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “We have too often been let down by development which is little more than housing estates without the infrastructure we desperately need. “Homes, jobs, infrastructure: they are all interlinked and should not be treated as independent to one another. They are also the things that matter to local people and local businesses and it is vital we get them right.” Cllr Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree District Council, added: “The Garden Communities, like our Horizon 120 business park, offer the opportunity for us to continue creating high quality employment space for new and existing businesses to enable them to thrive and grow,
close to a range of high-quality homes and supported by the infrastructure needed for families to live, work and play.” Cllr Neil Stock, Leader of Tendring District Council, said: “The work done by CEBR shows that with the right focus in the right areas, particularly in terms of embedding the latest technologies, the creation of good quality employment space and provision of digital infrastructure means the Garden Communities offer a real opportunity to help drive forward the North Essex economy.” The findings of the revised and new Local Plan evidence will be considered by Local Plan Committees across the three authorities through July and then by full council meetings in Braintree and Tendring ahead of a period of consultation. It is expected that the Local Plan examination will re-open this winter.
01621 893834 t 07900 332795 8
Popular Comedy Store show
Quick Crossword Puzzle
returns to Charter Hall this July shows as Have I Got News For You, The Clive James Show, The Brian Conley Show, The Des O’Connor Show, The Stand Up Show, Edinburgh Nights, Best of Edinburgh, The Royal Variety Show, and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
Taking place on 26 July, the show will present a star-studded line up of special guest comedians in a night guaranteed to keep audiences rolling in the aisles. MC Alistair Barrie is amongst the most sought-after comedians on the international comedy circuit. Alistair has performed all over the UK, and across Europe, as well as further afield as Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Macau, Malta, Singapore, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Afghanistan, and at the world’s highest gig on top of a mountain in France. Barrie is also a key member of The Cutting Edge team at London’s Comedy Store. He has also made numerous TV appearances around the world. Dominic Holland has been doing stand-up comedy since 1991 and has become one of the most regarded comedians of his generation, playing regularly at The Comedy Store and performing full length at theatres all over the country. In addition, Dominic has made numerous guest appearances on such television
Dane Baptiste – After the incredible success of his debut show Citizen Dane (which saw him nominated for Best Newcomer at both the Foster’s Comedy Awards at 2014’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival and again in 2015’s Chortle Awards), Dane has completed two sold-out runs at The Soho Theatre (with additional dates added due to phenomenal demand), written and starred in his own sitcom for the BBC and performed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Cllr Theresa Higgins, Colchester Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Commercial Services, said: “The Comedy Store is a great addition to this year’s excellent line-up of shows at Charter Hall and is certain to draw a great crowd as usual.” The Comedy Store takes place at Charter Hall, Colchester, on the 20 October 2017. Doors open at 7pm. The event is 18+ and I.D. may be required. Tickets: £17 plus £2.50 booking fee. A fully stocked bar will be available on the night serving a selection of drinks and snacks. To find out more and to book tickets visit: https://www.colchester-events. co.uk/event/the-comedy-store-2/
ACROSS 1 Be dismissed from septet Hugh formed (3,3,4) 9 Cut in magnitude, say (6) 10 Villa under renovation is without equal (10) 11 Sounds like a lot to celebrate (4) 12 Score goal in game (7) 15 After nonsense was convulsed with laughter (7) 16 Symphony’s finale stays with listeners a long time (5) 17 Organ’s beginning to worry old doctor (4) 18 Go crazy when rejected (4) 19 Sophisticated unionist enters bar (5) 21 One real mad woman! (7) 22 Glut bridge opponents with Cheddar perhaps (7) 24 Principal player of heavy metal (4) 27 Introduce popular soothsayer at start of Easter (10) 28 Colin upset oriental girl (6) 29 I screened new second homes (10) DOWN 2 Woman from French city supporting European Union (6) 3 Slight contribution to healthiness (4) 4 Demand 50 yen precisely (7) 5 Fruit said to be repulsive (4) 6 5 Down drunk housed outside island’s capital (7) 7 Graves may be recommended by him (4,6) 8 Right weird believers can be overruled (10) 12 Country’s fresh enthusiasm excited Dan (3,7) 13 Abstinence meant creep reformed (10) 14 Creature that climbs the wall in Paris? (5) 15 Girl started to wander in wood (5) 19 One comes in to join serviceman (7) 20 Busy when given a ring (7) 23 Try article about east German writer (6) 25 Quiet fool gets to achieve the required standard (4) 26 Smooth metallic element (4) SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 get the push. 9 incise. 10 unrivalled. 11 fête. 12 netball. 15 guffaws. 16 years. 17 womb. 18 stab. 19 suave. 21 Eleanor. 22 engorge. 24 lead. 27 inaugurate. 28 Nicole. 29 residences. DOWN: 2 Eunice. 3 thin. 4 exactly. 5 ugly. 6 hideous. 7 wine waiter. 8 reversible. 12 New Zealand. 13 temperance. 14 lemur. 15 grove. 19 soldier. 20 engaged. 23 Goethe. 25 pass. 26 iron.
Comedy connoisseurs rejoice! Once again, Colchester Events Company is teaming up with London’s infamous Comedy Store to bring some of the hottest comedic talents in the UK to Charter Hall.
Bethany Black is a stand-up comedian from Chorley in Lancashire. Described as “Britain’s only Goth, lesbian, transsexual comedian”, she is known for performing black comedy and dealing with controversial subjects!
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Alumno pre-lease information released Colchester Borough Council has today released information about its pre-lease agreement with developers Alumno to help ensure transparency ahead of a planning inquiry in October. The council’s planning committee in February unanimously rejected plans by Alumno for 336-student rooms, an 87-bed Travelodge hotel, retail units and public open space to be created off Queen Street. The developers have now submitted an appeal against this decision which is scheduled to start on 16 October. While the council will fully support the committee’s decision, it has released information on the pre-lease agreement with Alumno to ensure it is as open as possible ahead of the inquiry. Under this agreement, which is dependent on the planning appeals process: • there are two leases between the council and Alumno - one for the student site and one for the hotel site. The lease period is 250 years. • a price of £980,881 has been agreed for the leases which would be used to invest in services and initiatives benefiting the whole borough.
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• the £40m investment by Alumno could also have supported the local economy through creating new jobs and encouraging more people to visit the centre of Colchester. • the contract is not invalidated by the refusal at planning committee but would be if appeals were refused at every stage of the planning process. • the only way the council could withdraw or terminate the lease with Alumno without any consequences would be if the developer were in material breach of the contract or became insolvent.
but we respect the different views on the merits of this scheme. We will provide transparency, to be as open as possible about the agreement with Alumno so everyone has the facts before we go into the planning inquiry. “Due to commercial sensitivities, we can’t publish the whole agreement, but we want to answer the key questions people have raised. The agreement will of course be held pending the appeal and throughout
the inquiry the council will, as is again our duty, vigorously and fully supporting the decision of our planning committee.” At the inquiry, which will be heard by planning inspector Melvyn Middleton, the main parties’ legal representatives will be able to present their cases and cross examine any other witnesses. Based on the evidence provided during the inquiry the inspector will provide a written decision several weeks after the end of the hearing.
The council’s planning committee refused planning permission for the scheme due to concerns about its design, overdevelopment, disabled access and lack of public consultation. Councillor David King, Portfolio Holder for Resources, said: “We have an important balance to strike and must do so without prejudice to the appeals process. “We will honour our agreement with Alumno, if they are successful, mindful of the benefits and income that brings. “We have already invested millions of pounds in St Botolph’s Quarter,
For any information or to submit an article or advert contact David Cook:
Call: Out Of Office: Email: Head Office:
01206 233717 07734 171985 SimplyColchester@gmail.com Simply Magazine, 1 George Williams Way, Colchester, Essex CO1 2JS
COPY DEADLINES:
Issue 56: 21/07/19 Issue 57: 21/08/19
Quick Crossword Puzzle
Mysterious ancient Roman ‘crown’ to go on display at Colchester Castle Museum A mysterious Roman priest’s headdress goes on display at Colchester Castle from Saturday 27 July, as part of its new exhibition Adorn: Jewellery, the Human Story. Adorn is the first exhibition to be held at Colchester Castle since it reopened in 2014 following a major refurbishment and has been two and a half years in the planning. The crown is one of two found at Cavenham, Suffolk, in 1925, and is believed to have been ritually buried. It is exceptionally rare and of unusual design making its use and what it represented hard to interpret. This fascinating ancient object is being reexplored in ‘Adorn’ and will, for the first time, be displayed alongside a replica of what it may have looked like when it was worn by a Roman priest more than 1600 years ago.
ACROSS 1 Mother takes girl back to a Spanish resort (6) 5 Goer is excited by wild parties (6) 9 Board needs agreement from two countries (5) 10 Give me erotic dancing fast! (8) 12 Waste food (7) 13 Go with lad on special boat (7) 14 Joint provides soothing effect to some extent (5) 16 Easy election victory but everything going downhill? (9) 18 Tart’s mega upset by plan (9) 21 Permit everyone to be in debt endlessly (5) 22 Footwear for lazy people (7) 24 Italian scorer in libel wrangle (7) 26 One who’s twice hitched illegally (8) 27 Student covered in a great deal of stuff used by gardeners (5) 28 Take ages to be a member (6) 29 Give another title to nobleman erroneously, some reflected (6)
These headdresses are poorly understood and probably represent a fusion of Roman and Celtic religious practices. A far older crown in a burial in Deal, Kent even implies a possible link with the enigmatic druids who
were supposedly wiped out by the Roman invaders. Is the Cavenham crown a lost link with this ancient religion? The mystery doesn’t end there. Colchester Museums’ curators now believe that the crown may date to the 4th century AD adding to growing evidence of a pagan revival at a time when Christianity was dominant in Britain. The crown would have originally dazzled: appearing golden and was probably adorned with metal feathers and glass or gems. Its front would have been decorated with Roman or ancient British gods, pictured in their temples. Glynn Davis, Senior Curator for Colchester + Ipswich Museums Service said: “This is an extraordinary object. It may not be as obviously beautiful as the other jewellery in the exhibition but the mystery behind its wearer and what it would have represented make it intriguing. “Was it indeed worn by a Roman priest? And if so, what power would this individual have held in ancient Roman society?”
DOWN 2 Bail out with independent proof of innocence (5) 3 Annoyed at parent taking 1000 for flat (9) 4 Most respect a trainee officer (7) 5 Rocky too can keep in grand shape (7) 6 Adult’s heard making painful sound (5) 7 Real idiot somehow becomes leader (9) 8 Annoyed with fellow’s coarse behaviour towards woman (4-7) 11 It stops leaves flying about (11) 15 Story of river rat with green clothing (9) 17 One working with horses for firm on island (9) 19 Perhaps oxygen fix good when breathing with difficulty (7) 20 Gangster is more active around summer time (7) 23 Time in history to muse (5) 25 I severely criticise religion (5)
SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 Malaga. 5 orgies. 9 ouija. 10 meteoric. 12 fritter. 13 gondola. 14 hinge. 16 landslide. 18 stratagem. 21 allow. 22 loafers. 24 Bellini. 26 bigamist. 27 mulch. 28 belong. 29 rename. DOWN: 2 alibi. 3 apartment. 4 admiral. 5 octagon. 6 groan. 7 editorial. 8 wolf-whistle. 11 paper-weight. 15 narrative. 17 stable-man. 19 gasping. 20 mobster. 23 Erato. 25 Islam.
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Colchester awarded multiple Green Flags To be able to fly the prestigious Green Flag, these parks and open spaces are checked regularly throughout the year to ensure they’re clean and well maintained, offer a welcoming place to visit, and encourage community involvement.
The Green Flag Awards, which shine a light on the UK’s very best parks and green spaces, have been announced this week with Colchester Borough Council once again scooping the national award for Castle Park, High Woods Country Park and Colchester Cemetery and Crematorium. The three sites are among a recordbreaking 1,970 UK parks and green spaces and 131 in thirteen other countries around the world, that have received a prestigious Green Flag Award from Keep Britain Tidy – the mark of a quality park or green space. This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
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Castle Park, which has a vision to be the jewel in the crown of Colchester ‘s Parks and Open Spaces, has also received the much-coveted additional Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of the historic features. Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Environment and Transportation, said: “I’m delighted that all three sites have once again received Green Flag Awards. These prestigious awards recognise the continuous hard work and dedication that our staff and volunteers put in to maintaining these areas and their facilities to such a high standard all year-round.” Councillor Gerard Oxford, Portfolio Holder for Customers, said: “These awards celebrate the dedication that goes into maintaining our parks and open spaces to such a high standard, and I’m delighted we have retained the Green Flag status. The cemetery
and crematorium site is a community resource, providing a green space for people to take a quiet walk or a moment to think. “As a working cemetery there are accessible pathways connecting areas which are kept clean and tidy. At the same time, the overwhelming sense is one of a home for wildlife and nature.” International Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “It’s fantastic that we have more Green Flag Awards in the UK than ever before, joined this year by 131 International winners. “Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We congratulate each and every winner on their fantastic achievement.”
Further information about Colchester Borough Council’s park and countryside spaces and Colchester Cemetery and Crematorium is available at www.colchester.gov.uk
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